Panasonic CF-52

There aren't many laptops that have an attached briefcase handle, let alone a comfortable one like that of the CF-52. In order for Panasonic to accomplish this, the framework and exterior molding have to be very durable.

The CF-52's chassis has a thicker layer of magnesium alloy than your average laptop, protecting it from the inadvertent bumps and knocks a typical briefcase goes through. In contrast, the Dell Latitude ATG D620 took a business laptop and covered delicate areas with magnesium alloy plates.

The CF-52 is part of Panasonic's semi rugged line, which means it can withstand a one foot drop onto plywood it has a spill through keyboard (there is a porthole that drains out from the keyboard to the bottom of the laptop), as well as a strong resistance to extreme temperatures. (At Panasonic's request, we didn't test these features.

Thus, users will have to take Panasonic's word that the system meets these specs.) The unit, however, does not follow the complete military specification, where roughly 16 objectives have to be met in order for it to be considered fully rugged. To meet those requirements, Panasonic has its fully rugged line.

With all the extra padding, the 7.4 pound frame isn't easy on the arms. The Dell Latitude ATG D620 is a pound lighter at 6.4 pounds, but if you really want to go light, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-W5 is a business rugged laptop that weighs 2.7 pounds, with a built in optical drive.

Following the wide screen trend, the CF-52 integrated its own 15.4 inch wide screen. Oddly enough, it also has 1,920 by 1,200 resolution. You typically find this resolution on 17 inch (and larger) wide screens, gaming laptops, and laptops with high definition (Blue-ray and HD DVD) drives.

The high resolution is great for media related tasks but is probably overkill for a 15.4 inch screen. Though bright, the resolution makes text too small to read on a 15.4 inch screen (granted, you can adjust the size of the text in the applications, but it's an inconvenience), but the large viewing area is a boon for maps, videos, and images. The keys on the keyboard aren't as resistant as I would like them to be. Otherwise, it's a comfortable typing experience.

You won't have to worry about water and dust seepage on individual ports because the CF-52 has them all covered with plastic snap on pieces. There are four USB ports, split between the back and the right-hand side. You also have both Express Card 34 and PC Card slots to provide maximum compatibility.

Believe it or not, many professionals rely heavily on a serial port for IT networking for switches or firewalls, for instance; the CF-52 has that covered, as well. Other impressive features include a hard drive and dual layer DVD burner that are both easily removable via a latch, in case critical data needs to be removed quickly.